Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
When I was 5 years old, I was forced to take dancing lessons while the Brother was forced to take accordion lessons. I hated dancing class. The Knights of Columbus Hall where the classes were given had no heat or it wasn't turned on. I hated wearing the pink beginner tights. I liked clacking around in the tap shoes, but Ma wouldn't let me practice inside the house on the wood floors. I spent most of my time in class being miserable and crying. Eventually, I was taken out of class.
While the Brother still had to endure accordion lessons, Dad took me to the library. He would leave me upstairs in the children's library where I could look at the books and choose to take some books home with my own library card. As I got older, I would go downstairs to the adult library and wander among the stacks enjoying the scent of the books before going to find Dad in the reference area consulting the law books and catching up on his work.
So for the next several weeks, a list of my favorite books, some I have read as a child, others as an adult and some I have read more than once.
This week, Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott.
If you haven't read this book, you can download it for free at Project Gutenberg. You can also find it at your public library or favorite bookstore.
I've never read this book. I don't really even know what it is about. I shall have to check it out sometime. Hope you have more sun than we do. Happy Saturday!
ReplyDeleteFrom Wikipedia: Ivanhoe is the story of one of the remaining Anglo-Saxon noble families at a time when the nobility in England was overwhelmingly Norman. It follows the Saxon protagonist, Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, who is out of favour with his father for his allegiance to the Norman king Richard the Lionheart. The story is set in 1194, after the failure of the Third Crusade, when many of the Crusaders were still returning to their homes in Europe. King Richard, who had been captured by Leopold of Austria on his return journey to England, was believed to still be in captivity. And: colourful descriptions of a tournament, outlaws, a witch trial, and divisions between Jews and Christians as well as Normans and Saxons. It is also the first time another character from literature appears in a novel as Robin Hood is also in this story.
ReplyDeleteI remember reading the book, and there was a TV series in England starring a young Roger Moore as Ivanhoe! I think the cow would be too big for your garden! Valerie
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten about the series with Roger Moore! Too bad about the cow. 😺
DeleteMy eyes are glazing over just typing a comment about this book.....lol. :-/
ReplyDeleteNot a fan of the classics, eh? 😺
DeleteI remember the first time I read this book, finding it in the school library in 7th (I think) grade. I've read it several times and have enjoyed it every time.
ReplyDeleteI was probably the same age when I first read it. I have read it several times since and the movie with Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor is one of my favorites.
DeleteI can't remember reading the book but I did enjoy the TV series.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I remember watching the TV series. Baby Roger Moore was so cute
Deletenope..not one I have ever read ..but i have heard of it.
ReplyDelete😊
DeleteI have not read it, but I have heard of it!
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